Anael Domingo

May 29, 2025

What Changed Me?

The moment that truly changed the course of my life was when I made the difficult decision to drop out of the UofT and pursue my passion for becoming a wardrobe stylist. At the time, I was a year into a university program that I had no real interest in. I went through the motions, trying to convince myself that it would all be worth it in the end, but deep down I knew I wasn’t following a path that made me feel fulfilled or excited.

I made the bold choice to take a break from school and dedicate myself to building a career in the fashion industry, a move that would end up transforming my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. When I left university, I didn’t have a clear plan.

All I knew was that I wanted to explore my creative side and see what I could do as a stylist.

I started by reaching out to local photographers in the city, offering to collaborate on shoots. Slowly but surely, I started building my portfolio. Every shoot was a new learning experience, and I used every opportunity to hone my eye for fashion, develop my personal style, and understand how to work with different personalities and creative visions. Through those early collaborations, I began forming connections within the fashion, film, and music industries, connections that would go on to shape my professional path.

Navigating the fashion world without any real mentorship or guidance was incredibly challenging. I didn’t have a blueprint to follow or someone to look up too. It was a lot of trial and error, and there were moments when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. Fortunately, I crossed paths with a kind and talented photographer who took me under their wing and helped guide me through those early days. Their support and encouragement gave me the confidence I needed to keep going. I started sharing my work on Instagram, and to my surprise, it began to gain traction. People were responding to my styling, and slowly, my reputation started to grow.

After a year of freelancing, I decided to return to school, this time with a renewed sense of purpose. I enrolled in the Fashion program at Toronto Metropolitan University, taking a temporary break from styling to focus on my studies. During this time, I began to explore another creative passion of mine: makeup. Makeup had always been something I loved since I was a child. I remember spending hours in front of the mirror, experimenting with different looks, even though I never seriously considered it as a career path.

Encouraged by friends who complimented my makeup skills and asked me to do their looks for events, I started practicing on others. It quickly became clear that makeup, like styling, brought me immense joy. I loved the way people lit up when they saw themselves in the mirror, more confident, more radiant, and fully themselves.

There’s an unique kind of magic in making someone feel beautiful, and I realized that both makeup and styling gave me that same rewarding feeling.

Over time, I began incorporating makeup into my creative projects, and it became a natural extension of my styling work. Both crafts have allowed me to express myself artistically while also connecting deeply with others. Seeing clients feel their best because of something I created is the most fulfilling part of what I do. It’s a powerful reminder that people trust my skills and believe in my creative vision.

Looking back, leaving UofT was one of the hardest yet most important decisions I’ve ever made. Had I not taken that leap of faith, I wouldn’t have discovered the path I’m on today. Makeup and styling have not only shaped my career, they’ve shaped my identity. Putting myself and my work out into the world was scary at first, but it led to relationships, opportunities, and a sense of purpose I never would have found otherwise.